Device for controlling the closing of a power circuit breaker

ABSTRACT

A device is for controlling the closing of a power circuit breaker according to operational parameters. The device includes an indication element for indicating the readiness for closing and a coupling element which interacts with the indication element. The operational parameters, for example, energy store empty or switchgear cell door open cause the indication element to pivot into the position not ready for closing and cause the coupling element to move into its disabled position. The indication element for indicating the readiness for closing and additional indication elements, which represent the position of the switching contacts and the state of the energy store, are adjacently arranged in an axial manner such that they can pivot and are provided with interacting drives in order to effect a forced drive of the indication element for indicating the readiness for closing when the position of the switching contacts or the state of the energy store does not enable or permit a closing of the power circuit breaker.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/DE00/04203 which has an Internationalfiling date of Nov. 22, 2000, which designated the United States ofAmerica, and which claims priority on German Application number DE19957391.3 filed Nov. 24, 1999, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a device for controlling the closingof a power circuit breaker according to operational parameters.Preferably, it relates to a power circuit breaker including switchingcontacts, an energy store for transferring the switching contacts froman opening position into a closing position, a latching device formaintaining a tensioned state of the energy store and at least oneclosing actuator for releasing the latching device and enabling theenergy store. Arranged in the path of the force transfer from theclosing actuator to the latching device, may be a coupling element,which can be moved into an active position and an inactive position.Each of the parameters may cause the coupling element to be transferredinto the inactive position, in which the force transfer from the closingactuator to the latching device is interrupted. An indicating element,which is dependent on the coupling element and can be moved into twopositions corresponding to the states, may be provided for visuallypresenting the states of “ready for closing” and “not ready for closing”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device for controlling a power circuit breaker is disclosed by DE 4333 828 C1. It makes it possible for a user of the power circuit breakerto verify that the power circuit breaker can be closed by viewing theseparate indicating element.

At the same time, the device prevents the energy store from beingenabled in spite of activation of a closing actuator, such as a manuallyoperated pushbutton or electromagnet, if one of the conditions is notsatisfied. Since all the features or parameters which oppose closing ofthe power circuit breaker can be considered, the device makes animportant contribution to the safety of the users of power circuitbreakers and to the protection of electrical switchgear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is based on an object of providing adevice which has a simplified construction and smaller dimensions. As aresult, such a device may make it possible to use the advantages of theindication of closing readiness for all power circuit breakers whichhave a stored-energy mechanism.

The stated object is achieved according to an embodiment of theinvention by at least one of the following further features:

the indicating element for closing readiness has working surfaces whichcan be acted on by the operational parameters and is able to betransferred by each of the parameters, counter to the action of arestoring force, from the “ready for closing” position into the; “notready for closing” position,

the indicating element and the coupling element have interacting workingsurfaces for transferring the coupling element into its inactiveposition when the indicating element assumes the “not ready for closing”position.

Consequently, the indicating element for closing readiness additionallyhas the logical OR function for the operational parameters. This has anadvantageous effect on the space requirement of the device.

Within the scope of an embodiment of the invention, the indicatingelement for closing readiness can be moved about a pivot axis, thecoupling element, which is designed in the manner of a lever, can bedisplaced in its longitudinal direction by the closing actuator and hasa frame-like middle part, reaching over a fixed guiding surface with aclearance and being able to be transferred by two drivers of theindicating element into the active position or the inactive position.This likewise has the effect of saving unit volume.

In connection with the design explained above of the indicating elementfor closing readiness, the fixed guiding surface may be formed by anattachment which is arranged concentrically in relation to the pivotaxis of the indicating element and against which one frame leg of themiddle part of the coupling element bears in its active position, and ifthe drivers of the indicating element for closing readiness reach overthe other frame leg of the middle part. This has the effect that thecoupling element is taken up and guided in such a way that, on the onehand, it can be displaced in its longitudinal direction by a closingactuator and, on the other hand, it can be pivoted under the influenceof the: indicating element to assume the active or inactive position.

In the case of power circuit breakers, it is also possible in connectionwith an embodiment of the invention for an indicating elementrepresenting the state of the energy store and a further indicatingelement, representing the position of the switching contacts, to beprovided in addition to the indicating element for closing readiness.Within the scope of an embodiment of the invention, it can be providedthat said additional indicating elements are likewise arranged such thatthey can be moved about the pivot axis of the indicating element forclosing readiness and that the additional indicating elements each havea driver for driving the indicating element for closing readiness. Thisachieves, in a particularly simple and therefore space-saving way, theeffect that two of the conditions for closing readiness of the powercircuit breaker, that is “switching contacts open” and “energy storetensioned”, become effective directly, without relying on mechanicaldevices.

It can contribute to a compact type of construction of the device and atthe same time to a reliable function that the closing latching leverbears a lug for direct forcible actuation of the indicating element forthe state of the energy store in both positions (“tensioned” and“empty”) and for actuating the indicating element for closing readinessonly in the “not ready for closing” direction.

In this case it proves to be expedient to arrange the indicating elementfor closing readiness centrally between the indicating elements for theswitching position and for the state of the energy store, therebycreating a mechanically compact arrangement which allows the user anoverview and makes it possible to see the state of the power circuitbreaker at a glance.

Depending on the conditions at the place where a power circuit breakeris installed, there may be a different number of mechanical parametersto be supplied to the device according to an embodiment of theinvention, as explained in the aforementioned DE 43 33 828 C1. In thiscase, it may prove to be advantageous to provide for the supplying ofparameters based on the state of actuating magnets an intermediate shaftwhich has a first lever arm, interacting with the indicating element forclosing readiness, and a second lever arm, interacting with a latchingdevice controlling the opening of the power circuit breaker. Thisintermediate shaft allows, on the one hand, a separation of theparameters existing in the power circuit breaker itself from those whichoriginate outside the power circuit breaker, for example “door of theswitchgear cell open” or “power circuit breaker drawn out”. In addition,the intermediate shaft makes possible a desired mechanical transmissionratio for adapting the stroke and force of actuating magnets to thedevice according to an embodiment of the invention and a desired spatialposition in relation to the indicating element for closing readiness andthe coupling element.

The intermediate shaft also offers the possibility of assigning anopening actuator to the device. This can take place by the intermediateshaft bearing as a third lever arm an opening lever arm, which can beacted on by an opening actuator. This can take place directly or with anauxiliary lever interposed, if the spatial position of the element to becoupled makes this appear to be necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of theexemplary embodiment represented in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a device for controlling the closing readiness of alow-voltage power circuit breaker, some components of the power circuitbreaker being represented in a schematically simplified form.

A modified exemplary embodiment of a device for controlling closingreadiness is shown in FIG. 2 in a representation corresponding to FIG.1.

In FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, a group of indicating elements are shownseparately in different operating states as a component part of thedevice according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown in FIG. 1, as a component part of a low-voltage power circuitbreaker, is an energy store 1 in the form of a compression spring, whichcan be transferred into a tensioned state in a known way by use of aclosing latching lever 2 and is kept in the tensioned state by alatching device 3. The latching device 3 includes a rotatably mountedclosing half-shaft 4, which interacts with a pivotably mounted closinglatching lever 2. The closing half-shaft 4 of the latching device 3 ispretensioned into the position shown by a tension spring 5, whereby theenergy store 1 is kept in the charged state. A clockwise rotation of theclosing half-shaft 4 causes sliding off of the latching surface on theclosing latching lever 2 and, as a result, enabling of the energy storeI to close the indicated switching contact 6.

A further latching device 7 is constructed in a way similar to thelatching device 3 and accordingly has an opening half-shaft 10 and anopening latching lever 11. If the opening half-shaft 10 is rotated outof its position of rest, counter to the action of a tension spring 12,the opening latching lever 11 slides off the opening half-shaft 10 andcauses in a known way the opening of the switching contact 6. Themechanical connections between the opening latching lever 11 and theswitching contact 6 have been omitted to simplify the representation,since they are not required for understanding the invention and can bethe same or similar to those of known power circuit breakers.

The device to be described in more detail below, according to FIG. 1,serves the purpose of making it possible to enable the closing latchinglever 2 to close the switching contact 6 only if all the conditions toallow closing to be carried out are satisfied and closing is permissiblefrom the aspect of user safety and technical reliability. A series ofparameters which are of significance in this context are described in DE43 33 828 C1, mentioned at the beginning. Named there as examples ofoperational parameters are:

A position of the operating shaft,

B removal of the overcurrent trip from the power circuit breaker,

C blocking with respect to further power circuit breakers of aswitchgear,

D position of the door of a switchgear cell accommodating the powercircuit breaker,

E position of the power circuit breaker in the slide-in frame and thestate of the actuating magnets M1, M2 and S.

All the named parameters are brought together in the case of the deviceshown by a pivotably mounted indicating element 13 for closingreadiness, which has an indicating surface 14 for the visualpresentation of indicating readiness in a window 15 of an operating face16 of the power circuit breaker. A tension spring 17 pretensions theindicating element 13 into the position shown, which corresponds to theposition of existing closing readiness. An extension arm 20, oppositefrom the indicating surface 14, serves for introducing mechanicalmovements which correspond to the stated operational parameters of thepower circuit breaker. In this respect, the supplying of the parametersA to E is represented in FIG. 1 by an arrow 21 directed at the extensionarm 20. As can be seen, each of these parameters causes pivoting of theindicating element 13, counter to the action of the restoring spring 17,and consequently counterclockwise into the position indicated bydot-dashed lines, by which absent closing readiness is indicated in theviewing window 15.

The same effect, that is to say the “not ready for closing” indication,is brought about by an intermediate shaft 22, on which there is arrangeda lever arm 23 for introducing the parameters-M1 and M2 in the directionof an arrow 24 and a further lever arm 25 for acting on the extensionarm 20. A further lever arm 26, arranged opposite from the lever arms 23and 25 of the intermediate shaft 22, interacts with the openinghalf-shaft 10. In this way, the parameters M1 and M2 at the same timecause the desired opening of the switching contact 6 and the “not readyfor closing” indication of the indicating element 13.

Interacting with the indicating element 13 for closing readiness is acoupling element 27, which is designed overall in the manner of a leverand is arranged movably at its lower end about a pivot bearing 30. Thepivot bearing 30 is not fixed, but movable on a tilting lever 31 with afixed pivot bearing 32. At its end opposite from the pivot bearing 30,the coupling element 27 reaches with a working surface 33, designed inthe manner of a hook, over a lever arm 34 mounted on the closinghalf-shaft 4. If the coupling element 27 is pivoted clockwise about thepivot bearing 30 in the direction of an arrow 35, the working surface 33disengages from the lever arm 34. In this case, all the movements actingon the coupling element 27 in the longitudinal direction of the latterwhich are exerted by closing actuators remain without effect on theclosing half-shaft 4. In the example shown, closing actuators 36 and S(arrow 26) arc shown. The closing actuator 36 is formed by a closingpushbutton, which is located on the operator console 16 of the powercircuit breaker, can be operated manually and acts on the aforementionedtilting lever 31. As a result, the tilting lever 31 is pivotedcounterclockwise, counter to the action of a restoring spring 37, aboutits pivot bearing 32 and, as a result, the pivot bearing 30 of thecoupling element 27 is displaced downward. If the working surface 33 isin this case in the effective range of the lever arm 34, the closinghalf-shaft 4 is driven along with it. The same happens if the furtherclosing actuator S, formed by a call-up magnet, acts on the couplingelement 27 in the direction of the arrow 38.

As already mentioned, the closing actuators 36 and S remain withouteffect if the coupling element 27 is pivoted clockwise and, as a result,the working surface 33 is moved away from the lever arm 34. To causethis movement, the coupling element 27 has a middle part 40, formed inthe manner of a frame, which has two frame legs 41 and 42 extendingapproximately parallel and in the longitudinal direction of the couplingelement 27. Of these, the frame leg 41 is reached over, somewhat in themanner of a fork, by two drivers 43 and 44 located on the extension arm20 of the indicating element 13, while the further frame leg 42 bearsagainst a concentric attachment 45 of the indicating element 13 in thestate of rest of the coupling element 27.

The position of the drivers 43 and 44 between the pivot bearing 30 andthe working; surface 33 of the coupling element 37 achieves the effectthat the described pivoting of the indicating element 13counterclockwise into its “not ready for closing” position moves thecoupling element clockwise about its pivot bearing 30 and, as a result,disengages the working surface 33 from the lever arm 34 of the closinghalf-shaft 4. Conversely, the coupling element 27 is returned to theposition shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 as soon as the indicatingelement 13 returns to its “ready for closing” position.

The power circuit breaker considered in connection with the inventionhas in addition to the indicating element 13 for closing readiness twofurther indicating elements 46 and 47, which visually illustrate to auser the switching state of the switching contact 6 or the state of theenergy store 1. According to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, said three indicatingelements 13, 46 and 47 are arranged adjacently, the additionalindicating elements 46 and 47 being pivotable in the same way as theindicating element 13 about said pivot axis. The additional indicatingelements 46 and 47, arranged on either side of the indicating element 13for closing readiness, each have a driver 50 and 51, respectively,extending axially in the direction of the indicating element 13 in themiddle. Interacting with these drivers 50 and 51 are drivers 52 and 53,likewise extending axially from the indicating element 13 to both sides.This achieves the effect of forcibly driving the indicating element 13for closing readiness into the “not ready for closing” position if theswitching contacts are not opened or if the energy store is not charged.

Let us firstly consider FIG. 3, which indicates the ready for closingstate. In this case there appear next to one another in windows on theoperator console 16 (FIG. 1) on the left the symbol “0” for the“switching contacts open” state, in the center the “OK” indication forexisting closing readiness and on the right the known symbol of a springfor the “energy store tensioned” state,

Indicated in FIG. 4 is the operating state in which, although the energystore is still tensioned and the indicating element 47 accordinglyassumes the same position as in FIG. 2, the switching contacts 6 areclosed. This has the consequence that the indicating element 46 showsthe symbol “I” (ON) and therefore the indicating element 13 has beenactuated by means of its driver 52 by the driver 50 of the indicatingelement 46 and indicates: “not ready for closing”.

In the operating state according to FIG. 5, the indicating element 47shows “energy store empty” (= symbol of relaxed spring) and theindicating element 46 shows “0” (= OFF switching position). In thiscase, the indicating element 13 shows “not ready for closing” on accountof the interaction of the drivers 51 and 53.

The indicating element 13 likewise indicates “not ready for closing” inthe position according to FIG. 6, which represents the state in whichthe switching contacts 6 are closed (= ON switching position) and theenergy store 1 is discharged (= “relaxed spring” symbol). To supply thedevice according to FIG. 1 with an opening command, there is provided anopening actuator 54, which acts in a suitable way on a pivotably mounteddeflecting lever 55, which is pretensioned into its position of rest bya restoring spring 56. A slotted slide 57, connected in an articulatedmanner to the deflecting lever, reaches over a driver pin 58, mounted onthe lever arm, in such a way that the opening half-shaft 10 can berotated counterclockwise by the lever arm 26 and, as a result, theopening latching lever 11 can be released.

Represented in FIG. 2 is a modified exemplary embodiment in which directactuation of the indicating elements 13 and 47 by the closing latchinglever 2 is provided. For this purpose, the closing latching lever 2 isprovided with a lug 60, which interacts with the driver 43. As can beseen, this only happens in that direction of movement which representsthe ON state, in which the energy store 1 is discharged and,accordingly, there is no longer readiness for closing. As a result, theindicating element 13 for closing readiness is forcibly brought into the“not ready for closing” position. This is represented in FIG. 3 by acoupling linkage 61 and an arrow 62. The indicating element 47 (FIGS.3-6) for the state of the energy store 1 is likewise forcibly actuated.This is likewise schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 by a double-headedarrow 63, which illustrates the actuation of the indicating element 47by the closing latching lever 2 in both directions of movement.

A further modification with respect to the exemplary embodimentaccording to FIG. 2 is given in FIG. 3 with regard to the openingactuator 54. This acts on one lever arm of a two-armed auxiliary lever64, which is pretensioned into a position of rest by a compressionspring 65, which acts on the second lever arm of the auxiliary lever 64.In addition to the lever arms 25 and 26, the intermediate shaft 22 bearsan opening lever arm 66, on which the auxiliary lever 64 acts when theopening actuator 54 is actuated. As can be seen, the auxiliary lever 64and the opening lever arm 66 make it possible to actuate theintermediate shaft 22 by the opening actuator 54 in spite of a certaindistance and different directions of action of the two elements. Undersome circumstances it may be possible to omit the auxiliary lever 64,including its mounting and its restoring spring 65, if the openingactuator 54 can be made to act directly on the opening lever arm 66 ofthe auxiliary shaft 22.

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a further detail is an auxiliary switch 67,which can be actuated by the indicating element 13 for closingreadiness. The auxiliary switch 67 can be used in a known way forelectrically processing or indicating the closing readiness of a powercircuit breaker equipped with the device described.

The entire device described, including the closing and opening actuators36 and 54 and also the indicating elements 13, 46 and 47, can beproduced as an extremely space-saving and mechanically reliableassembly. This makes it easier for all power circuit breakers providedwith an energy store to be equipped with a device according to anembodiment of the invention.

List of designations

1 energy store

2 closing latching lever

4 latching device

4 closing half-shaft

3 latching device

5 tension spring

6 switching contacts

7 latching device

10 opening half-shaft

11 opening latching lever

13 indicating element for closing readiness

12 tension spring

14 indicating surface

15 window

16 operator console

17 tension spring

20 extension arm

21 arrow

22 intermediate shaft

23, 25 lever arm

24 arrow

26 lever arm

27 coupling element

30 pivot bearing

31 tilting lever

32 pivot bearing of the tilting lever 31

33 working surface

34 lever arm

35 arrow for pivoting

36, S closing actuator

37 restoring spring

38 restoring spring

40 frame-like middle part

41, 42 frame legs

41 middle part

42 frame leg

43, 44 drivers

45 attachment

46 indicating element for the switching state (ON/OFF)

47 indicating element for state of the energy store 1

50 driver on the indicating element 46

51 driver on the indicating element 47

52, 53 driver on the indicating element 13

54 opening actuator

55 deflecting lever

56 restoring spring for deflecting lever 55

57 slotted slide

58 driver pin

60 lug on the on latching lever 2

61 coupling linkage for indicating element 47

62 arrow for actuation of the indicating element 13

63 double-headed arrow for actuation of the indicating element 47

64 auxiliary lever

65 restoring spring for auxiliary lever 63

66 opening lever arm on the intermediate shaft 22

67 auxiliary switch on the indicating element 13

M1, M2 parameters

M1, M2, S actuating magnet

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for controlling the closing of a powercircuit breaker according to at least one operational parameter, thepower circuit breaker including switching contacts, an energy store fortransferring the switching contacts from an opening position into aclosing position, a latching device for maintaining a tensioned state ofthe energy store and at least one closing actuator for releasing thelatching device and enabling the energy store, the device forcontrolling the closing comprising: a coupling element, arranged in apath of force transfer from the closing actuator to the latching device,movable into an active position and an inactive position, an operationalparameter causing the coupling element to be transferred into theinactive position, in which the force transfer from the closing actuatorto the latching device is interrupted; and an indicating element,dependent on the coupling element and movable between only two positionsrespectively corresponding to exactly two states, to visually presentthe two states of “ready for closing” and “not ready for closing”,wherein the indicating element for closing readiness moveable inresponse to an operational parameter, and wherein the indicating elementand the coupling element are in mutual engagement for transferring thecoupling element into its inactive position when the indicating elementassumes the “not ready for closing” position.
 2. The device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the indicating element for closing readiness ismovable about a pivot axis and wherein the coupling element, which isdesigned as a lever, is displaceable in its longitudinal direction bythe closing actuator and includes a frame-like middle part, reaches overa fixed guiding surface with a clearance and is able to be transferredby two drivers of the indicating element for closing readiness into atleast one of the active position and the inactive position.
 3. Thedevice as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixed guiding surface isformed by an attachment which is arranged concentrically in relation tothe pivot axis of the indicating element and against which one frame legof the middle part of the coupling element bears in its active position,and wherein the drivers of the indicating element for closing readiness,reach over the other frame leg of the middle part.
 4. The device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein an indicating element representing the stateof the energy store and a further indicating element, representing theposition of the switching contacts, are arranged to be movable about thepivot axis of the indicating element for closing readiness, and whereineach indicating element includes a driver for driving the indicatingelement for closing readiness.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4,wherein the closing latching lever bears a lug for direct forcibleactuation of the indicating element for the state of the energy store inboth positions and for actuation of the indicating element for closingreadiness only in the “not ready for closing” direction.
 6. The deviceas claimed in claim 5, wherein the indicating element for closingreadiness is arranged centrally between the indicating elements for theswitching position and for the state of the energy store.
 7. The deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein parameters based on the state ofactuating magnets are adapted to be supplied to an intermediate shaft,including a first lever arm, interacting with the indicating element forclosing readiness, and a second lever arm, interacting with a latchingdevice controlling the opening of the power circuit breaker.
 8. Thedevice as claimed in claim 7, wherein the intermediate shaft bears, as athird lever arm, an opening lever arm, actuateable by an openingactuator.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein an indicatingelement representing the state of the energy store and a furtherindicating element, representing the position of the switching contacts,are arranged to be movable about the pivot axis of the indicatingelement for closing readiness, and wherein each indicating elementincludes a driver for driving the indicating element for closingreadiness.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the closinglatching lever bears a lug for direct forcible actuation of theindicating element for the state of the energy store in both positionsand for actuation of the indicating element for closing readiness onlyin the “not ready for closing” direction.
 11. The device as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the indicating element for closing readiness isarranged centrally between the indicating elements for the switchingposition and for the state of the energy store.
 12. The device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein parameters based on the state of actuatingmagnets are adapted to be supplied to an intermediate shaft, including afirst lever arm, interacting with the indicating element for closingreadiness, and a second lever arm, interacting with a latching devicecontrolling the opening of the power circuit breaker.
 13. The device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate shaft bears, as a thirdlever arm, an opening lever arm, actuateable by an opening actuator. 14.The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein parameters based on the stateof actuating magnets are adapted to be supplied to an intermediateshaft, including a first lever arm, interacting with the indicatingelement for closing readiness, and a second lever arm, interacting witha latching device controlling the opening of the power circuit breaker.15. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the intermediate shaftbears, as a third lever arm, an opening lever arm, actuateable by anopening actuator.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 4, whereinparameters based on the state of actuating magnets are adapted to besupplied to an intermediate shaft, including a first lever arm,interacting with the indicating element for closing readiness, and asecond lever arm, interacting with a latching device controlling theopening of the power circuit breaker.
 17. The device as claimed in claim4, wherein the intermediate shaft bears, as a third lever arm, anopening lever arm, actuateable by an opening actuator.
 18. A device forindicating operational states of a circuit breaker, comprising: acoupling element, movable into an active position and an inactiveposition, at least one operational parameter of the circuit breakercausing the coupling element to be transferred into the inactiveposition, in which the force transfer from the closing actuator to thelatching device is interrupted; and an indicating element, dependent onthe coupling element, movable between only a first closing position anda second non-closing position to visually present states of closingreadiness of contacts of the circuit breaker, wherein the indicatingelement is transferable by an operational parameter from a first closingposition into a second non-closing position, and wherein the indicatingelement and the coupling element are in mutual engagement fortransferring the coupling element into its inactive position when theindicating element assumes the second non-closing position.
 19. Thedevice of claim 18, wherein the indicating element additionally displaysat least one of a state of the contacts and a state of an energy storeof the circuit breaker.
 20. A device for indicating operational statesof a circuit breaker, comprising: a coupling element, adapted to bemovable into an active position and an inactive position, at least oneoperational parameter of the circuit breaker causing the couplingelement to be transferred into the inactive position, in which the forcetransfer from the closing actuator to the latching device isinterrupted; and an indicating element, dependent on the couplingelement, adapted to be movable and to visually present states of closingreadiness of contacts of the circuit breaker, wherein the indicatingelement can be acted on directly by an operational parameter and is ableto be transferred by an operational parameter from a first closingposition into a second non-closing position, and wherein the indicatingelement and the coupling element are in mutual engagement fortransferring the coupling element into its inactive position when theindicating element assumes the second non-closing position, wherein theindicating element is movable about a pivot axis and wherein thecoupling element, which is designed as a lever, is displaceable in itslongitudinal direction by the closing actuator and includes a frame-likemiddle part, reaches over a fixed guiding surface with a clearance, andis able to be transferred by at least one driver of the indicatingelement into at least one of the active position and the inactiveposition.
 21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fixedguiding surface is formed by an attachment which is arrangedconcentrically in relation to the pivot axis of the indicating elementand against which one frame leg of the middle part of the couplingelement bears in its active position, and wherein the at least onedriver of the indicating element, reaches over the other frame leg ofthe middle part.
 22. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein anindicating element representing the state of an energy store of thecircuit breaker and a further indicating element, representing theposition of the switching contacts, are arranged to be movable about thepivot axis of the indicating element, and wherein each indicatingelement includes a driver for driving the indicating element.
 23. Thedevice as claimed in claim 22, wherein the closing latching lever bearsa lug for direct forcible actuation of the indicating element for thestate of the energy store in both positions and for actuation of theindicating element for closing readiness only in the non-closingdirection.
 24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the indicatingelement for closing readiness is arranged centrally between theindicating elements for the switching position and for the state of theenergy store.
 25. A device for indicating operational states of acircuit breaker, comprising: a coupling element, adapted to be movableinto an active position and an inactive position, at least oneoperational parameter of the circuit breaker causing the couplingelement to be transferred into the inactive position, in which the forcetransfer from the closing actuator to the latching device isinterrupted; and an indicating element, dependent on the couplingelement, adapted to be movable and to visually present states of closingreadiness of contacts of the circuit breaker, wherein the indicatingelement can be acted on directly by an operational parameter and is ableto be transferred by an operational parameter from a first closingposition into a second non-closing position, and wherein the indicatingelement and the coupling element are in mutual engagement fortransferring the coupling element into its inactive position when theindicating element assumes the second non-closing position, wherein atleast one parameter based on the state of actuating magnets are adaptedto be supplied to an intermediate shaft, including a first lever arm,interacting with the indicating element, and a second lever arm,interacting with a latching device controlling the opening of thecircuit breaker.
 26. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein theintermediate shaft bears, as a third lever arm, an opening lever arm,actuateable by an opening actuator.
 27. The device as claimed in claim18, wherein the circuit breaker includes switching contacts, an energystore for transferring the switching contacts from an opening positioninto a closing position, a latching device for maintaining a tensionedstate of the energy store and at least one closing actuator forreleasing the latching device and enabling the energy store.
 28. Thedevice as claimed in claim 18, wherein the indicating element isdesigned such that it can be acted on directly by an operationalparameter of the circuit breaker and is able to be transferred by anoperational parameter, counter to the action of a restoring force.